Podcast Summary: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Episode Title: The Infinite Options of Where to Begin
Air Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, CeCe Lyra

Episode Overview

This episode of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing focuses on the challenges and creative strategies surrounding where and how to begin a novel. Through their popular "Books With Hooks" segment, Carly and CeCe critique two query letters and opening pages submitted by listeners — offering practical, honest feedback for writers on pitching, structure, and the art of compelling beginnings. With the trademark warmth, humor, and sharp insight, the trio also touches on topics like character stakes, the evolution of influencer culture in fiction, and navigating genre conventions. The show is a goldmine for emerging writers seeking real talk and actionable advice for both crafting their stories and breaking into the industry.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Query Critique #1: "The Allotment"

(Starts at 01:10)

Summary:
A contemporary romance set in the UK about an influencer and a disgraced chef forced to share a garden plot.

• Author Compares: Lucy Parker’s Battle Royale, Beth O’ Leary’s The Wake Up Call.

Main Insights:

• Clarifying Industry Language: Carly notes “double POV” is usually called “dual POV” in North America, flagging the importance of using industry-standard terms for clarity (03:44).

  “Typically we say dual POV. I don’t know if, like, double is a problem. I’m just letting you know…”
  — Carly, 03:44

• The Challenge of Influencer Narratives: Carly expresses skepticism about stories centered around influencers, citing the rapidly evolving landscape and the risk of coming across as overly sunny or unrealistic (04:50).

  “We have to suspend quite a bit of disbelief… This is a romanticization of what influencers are.”
  — Carly, 04:50

• Similarity in Character Arcs: Both main characters pursue similar goals (plot-to-plate content), which Carly worries might dilute the tension.
• Strong Visuals & Humor:

  “I love ‘launch into passive aggressive horticultural warfare.’”
  — Carly, 08:40

• Structural Concerns: Query is a bit long and summary-heavy. The “big reveal” of the viral video connecting the leads is perhaps confusing and risks not being a surprise for readers in a dual POV setup (09:06, 10:10).

  “Even if she didn’t know, the reader will know, because the reader will be in his head...”
  — CeCe, 10:10

• Food in Fiction: CeCe notes the popularity of food elements across genres and references Butter, a Japanese novel, as a rich example of food-in-fiction done well (11:18).

Opening Pages Feedback:

(Starts at 11:27)

• Quick Start: Praised for immediately diving into conflict.

  “They always get right to the plot… North American writers can learn a lot from this!”
  — Carly, 13:10

• Character Contrasts: Carly enjoys the visual and personality differences between the leads, but wants more dramatic tension, especially concerning influencer aesthetics (why would the character try to revive her career dressed as a “Hot Mess Express”?).
• Age and Stakes: The protagonist seems around 40, which deepens the stakes around career and life expectations, but Carly seeks more exploration of this “darker side.”
• Format Reminder: Bianca reminds listeners to respect page count and formatting when submitting to agents.

Writing Quality:

• Humor: CeCe enjoys humorous lines tucked into action and dialogue (19:39), but says the writing didn’t “click” for her — possibly just a taste issue.
• Roommate Dynamic: The forced proximity dynamic is likened (jokingly) to Wicked’s Elphaba and Glinda.
• Desire for “More Mess”: Both agents wanted higher stakes and more chaos to leverage the story’s best assets.

2. Query Critique #2: "The One-Eyed Angel"

(Starts at 26:47)

Summary:
YA fantasy featuring an angel on a revenge quest against her human ex-lover who literally gouged out her eye. Dual timelines, duology, morally gray characters, world-ending stakes.

Main Insights:

• Query Structure Masterclass:

  “Where’s my magic wand? Magic wand for this lovely writer. This first paragraph is giving me all the metadata…plus a clear and compelling hook.”
  — CeCe, 29:14

• Establishing Dread and Hope: The query’s dual-timeline structure is praised for giving readers both dread (knowing a betrayal is coming) and hope (revenge and stopping an apocalypse).
• Avoiding Overexplanation: CeCe advises the author not to be so explicit about the betrayer’s (Pyotrek) emotional motivation in the query — readers will want mystery (30:03).
• Bookseller Author Bio: Both hosts emphasize that bookselling experience is a real query asset, showing the writer’s industry savvy (32:34).

  “Having a background as a bookseller can be such a big, big advantage... You understand more about the competitive nature of publishing.”
  — CeCe, 33:13

• World Stakes vs. Personal Stakes:

  “Not only is there a big world stake, there is a very personal stake… The personal stake feels personal because literally her eyeball was stabbed out.”
  — Carly, 35:05

• YA Genre Questions and Morality: Carly flags that the voice and themes seem mature for YA (revenge against an ex-lover) and asks whether a dark romance narrative is appropriate for the audience (36:52).

  “If these two get back together, you’re essentially endorsing abuse… Just want to flag that.”
  — Carly, 38:08

Opening Pages Feedback:

(Starts at 38:29)

• Descriptive but Needs Punch: The first line is considered too generic for such a high-stakes, original premise.

  “First lines are really important. However much you care about your first line, you should care about it even more.”
  — CeCe, 39:45

• Strong Details:

  “It was a dark, sharp eye. As observant as two.”
  — CeCe, 40:36
  (Carly later calls this “one of the best lines we've ever read on the show” at 47:27)

• Forced Dynamics: Hosts find the bartender probing about the eye (trigger for a flashback) contrived. Both recommend a more organic setup and less backstory up front.
• General Advice:

  “There is no such thing as one best place (to start). There’s always so many versions of a really great place to start.”
  — CeCe, 43:22

• Emotional Engagement: Carly notes how rare it is for such early pages to make her feel the character’s pain so viscerally; revenge is a strong motivator.
• Suggestions for Tighter Openings: Both recommend witholding a bit more backstory for mystery, and possibly choosing a more curiosity-inducing starting scene.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Romance and Plot Mechanics:
  “I just wonder at what point the reader is going to understand the conceit here.”
  — Carly, 07:50
• On Crafting Openings:
  “Ask yourself, why did you pick this as your opening scene? Did you consider others? There might be a better opening.”
  — CeCe, 43:14
• On Stakes:
  “Not only do we have world stakes, we have personal stakes that, as CeCe pointed out, are connected, which is very important.”
  — Carly, 35:05
• On Bookselling Experience:
  “Having a background as a bookseller can be such a big, big advantage for you when you decide to make it in the publishing industry.”
  — CeCe, 33:13
• On Writer Subjectivity:
  “For me, this was one of those situations where the writing for my taste, it didn’t work... I kept wanting more mess.”
  — CeCe, 21:23
• Lighthearted Moment:
  “Acts of...but, like, I still remember this. Like, this is super personal. But when...your beautiful dog passed away, I made a donation to this shelter thing because I’m like, Bianca is not going to want flowers… get into something mainstream!”
  — CeCe, 19:00
• CeCe as Legal Voice of Reason:
  “Any matchmaking that happens through this podcast is not an endorsement of either writer or agent... Please, people, we are here to celebrate, love and to share, but we are not vetting anyone.”
  — CeCe, 47:38

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:10] — Query Critique #1: The Allotment (Reading)
• [03:44] — Carly’s Industry Feedback & Influencer Culture Commentary
• [09:06] — CeCe’s Remarks on Query Structure/Twist Revelation
• [11:27] — Opening Pages: The Allotment
• [13:10] — UK vs. North American Romance Styles
• [19:39] — CeCe on Humor & Messiness in Writing
• [26:47] — Query Critique #2: The One-Eyed Angel (Reading)
• [29:14] — CeCe’s Query Structure Breakdown
• [33:13] — Bookseller Experience as Asset
• [35:05] — Carly on Combining World and Personal Stakes
• [38:29] — Opening Pages: The One-Eyed Angel
• [43:22] — CeCe on the Infinite Options of Where to Begin
• [47:27] — Carly’s Reaction to “As observant as two” Line
• [47:38] — CeCe’s Legal Disclaimer for Writer-Agent Introductions

Episode Takeaways

• The right starting point for your novel (or any story) is a craft decision with infinite options—don’t be afraid to experiment with multiple beginnings.
• The best query letters are clear, concise, and compelling—leading with stakes, metadata, and a satisfying hook, while not over-explaining motivations.
• Agents are seeking both unique premises and emotional resonance—personal stakes must feel personal, even within high-concept or world-ending plots.
• Writers should be mindful of trends (like “influencer” stories), genre expectations, and especially the complexities around age and mature content, particularly in YA.
• Real-life industry experience (such as bookselling) can be a unique advantage in queries.
• Strong craft, humor, and “mess” (conflict, stakes, surprise) are always in demand.

For Listeners:

If you're looking for practical feedback on your work or want to learn more about industry expectations, this episode delivers—offering craft and industry wisdom, memorable critiques, and a few good laughs along the way.